Mind your manners

It’s a fact that gossip can be very damaging to the party being talked about. Often, the stories being told are either outright fabrications, or at the very least, exaggerations. While it’s human nature to “enjoy” this sort of thing, it’s also quite rude and intrusive. To silence a gossipy neighbor, simply tell the person nicely that you prefer not to hear what it is he or she has to say. Point out that the gossiper would most likely not appreciate it if he or she were the target of such talk. That should nip things nicely in the bud without having to play the “heavy.”